storyhill.net, Oct. 23, 2006

Reynolds, Petrie & Stocking threaten storyhill.net

Oct. 23 -- State Sen. Tom Reynolds and the Petrie & Stocking law firm are threatening to sue storyhill.net over a story about Reynolds' campaign fund that appeared on the site.

The threat "is a blatant attempt to intimidate a constitutent," said storyhill.net editor Gretchen Schuldt. "It's absurd. Reynolds and Petrie & Stocking can't even get their own story straight."

A copy of the threat letter was sent to the Story Hill Neighborhood Association as well.

"I'm surprised that Petrie & Stocking would stoop to such low-rent bully tactics," Schuldt said.

The stroyhill.net posting reported that individuals were considering filing complaints with the State Elections Board over Reynolds' use of campaign funds to pay for some utility costs at his headquarters, which he lists on his campaign finance reports as his home.

The story reported that using campaign funds for private purposes is illegal, but did not accuse Reynolds of doing that.

Reynolds' lawyer, Petrie & Stocking attorney Thomas Frenn, said last week that Reynolds (R-West Allis) would sue unless the utility story is retracted. Schuldt owns the site, and operates it on a volunteer basis.

"Unless a retraction is published on the Story Hill Website and in any other posted location of your statements, Mr. Reynolds will sue you and the owner of the website for libel and slander," Frenn wrote.

Frenn erroneously said Schuldt accused Reynolds of violating election laws.

Dawn Martin, a Reynolds' constituent, did file a complaint about the utility payments with the State Elections Board. Martin also is Milwaukee County Democratic Party treasurer. In addition, Reynolds does list his campaign address as his home.

Reynolds contends, however, that his campaign headquarters is really another building, but just which one is unclear.

Frenn said last week the headquarters was on the same property as Reynolds' house at 9430 W. Schlinger Ave.

Reynolds, though, issued a statement that said his campaign headquarters was behind another building he owns at 9500 W. Schlinger Ave.

"Frenn even said that the Reynolds' home itself is 'equipped with items to run his campaign including printing presses,' " Schuldt said. "I think Frenn meant to say the the equipment is in the headquarters, wherever they eventually decide that is. I'm just wondering now if Frenn is going to threaten to sue himself."

Schuldt said sending the threat letter to the Story Hill Neighborhood Association was a clear effort to suppress free discussion in a well-organized neighborhood.

"The only reason to disseminate that letter to the association is to say 'watch what you say or we'll go after you next,' " she said. "It's almost Halloween, but I don't think either the Democrats or Republicans in Story Hill are very scared."

The entire flap only raised a new question about Reynolds' campaign finance report, Schuldt said.

"Reynolds says he uses a building that has heat, electricity and maybe even printing presses for his campaign," she said. "He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he uses it almost exclusively for campaign purposes. Yet there's no rent listed on Reynolds' campaign finance report, nor is there an in-kind donation listed for the fair market value of use of whatever building we're talking about. We have asked Mr. Frenn why that might be."

State law requires candidates to report contributions of value, whether they are cash or in-kind donations.

"We do hope someone at Petrie & Stocking will help Mr. Frenn understand that we are not accusing anyone of anything," Schuldt said. "We are just asking the question."